Leveraging the future
An important finding from the CNI-Ibope survey is the continued positive approval ratings of the PT governments in all surveys conducted since Lula's first term.
The CNI-IBOPE survey "Government Evaluation – March 2013," released last week by the National Confederation of Industry, demonstrates the consolidation of the positive evaluation of Dilma Rousseff's government.
According to the survey, 63% of Brazilians rate Dilma's government as excellent or good. Seventy-nine percent of those interviewed say they approve of the president's way of governing, and 75% say they trust the president.
For 61% of the population, Dilma's government is the same as President Lula's government. Furthermore, optimism regarding the end of Dilma's government has grown, with the percentage of people who believe that Dilma will end her first term with an excellent or good rating rising from 62% to 65%.
The research indicates that the fight against hunger and poverty, unemployment, and the struggle to improve the environment are the main factors contributing to the positive evaluation of Dilma's government. The areas of Health, Taxes, Environment, and Education registered a significant increase in approval ratings, according to the research.
For us, this assessment is very significant, as it confirms the population's recognition of the federal government's efforts in prioritizing issues that have always been fundamental to the party: the fight against hunger and poverty, full employment, and prioritizing health and education.
Another important finding of the research is the maintenance of good approval ratings for the PT governments in all surveys conducted since Lula's first term. Dilma's administration has managed to maintain the approval levels of Lula's government and even improve in some areas. This is the key point. The last elections showed that government approval ratings were decisive. Consider this: on March 19, 2009, Dilma had 11% of the vote intention, while José Serra had 35%. At the same time, Lula had a 64% approval rating (excellent or good). Dilma won. Two years later, in March 2011, President Dilma's approval rating was 56%, while Haddad had 2% of the vote intention and Serra, 26%. Haddad won.
The numbers therefore demonstrate that the population approves of the path we have chosen. And a likely victory for President Dilma Rousseff in the 2014 elections will pave the way for deepening the changes and promoting a revolution in education, infrastructure, security, and health.
In education, we need to universalize full-time schools in elementary education; promote a major curricular change; further connect education to the internet; guarantee quality training for technicians and graduates; and exponentially increase the number of masters and doctoral degree holders.
In terms of infrastructure, we need a new transportation system that expands railways, waterways, ports, and airports. We also need to invest more in urban infrastructure to ensure universal access to sewage systems, drinking water, electricity, and alternative energy sources.
The challenge is to make our social indicators comparable to those of a country that is already the 6th largest economy in the world.